Compensation-regulator for watches.



No. 630,325. Patented Aug. 13, 190|.`

c. M. GEIGER. COMPENSATIDN REGULATOR FOR WATCHES.-

(Application led Nov. 10, 1900.) (llo Model.)

lll-Illll UNITED 'STATES PATENT @Finca CHARLES M. GEIGER, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

CONI PENSATION-REGULATOR FOR WATCHES.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 680,325, dated August 13, 1901.

Application iiled November vl0, 1900. Serial No. 36,059. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. GEIGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah', have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ternperature-Compensating Devices for Watches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My inventionrelates to time-keeping mechanisms in which the escapement is accomplished through a hair-spring and balance- Wheel; and the principal object of the improvement is to compensate the escapement for change of temperature in a more accurate and complete manner thansuch devices now in use; also, my improvement is so constructed that it can be more simply and perfectly adjusted, so that it will perfectly compensate any time-keeping mechanism of the abovedescribed class to which it may be attached for variations caused by changes of temperature,'thereby making the escapement perfectly uniform as regards change of temperature.- The device now in use for compensating this class of time-keeping mechanisms for change of temperature-viz., the expansionbalance-is an imperfect device and cannot, even with great labor, be adjusted so as to perfectly compensate for change of temperature. My invention is so constructed as to overcome these defects. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section on line L L of Fig. 4 of the principal parts of the device detached from the watch; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the attachments and adjustments of the compensating end of the compensating ring. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged Vplan view of the pivotal block that is connected with and actuates the hair-spring of the watch. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device separated from the watch. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of the device as it would appear attached to. va Watch and is a section on the zigzag line K K of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional fragmentary view of the lower-jewel-supporting plate and shows the mannerin which the lower jewel and the pivot of the pivotal block EL are supported. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 isa sectional elevation of Fig. 3 on line o o. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the cross-head and its adj usting-screw of the pivotal block, and Fig. 11 is a plan view of the cross-head of the pivotal block.

Similar characters of reference referto similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a watchcase; 2, 3, and 4, gears of the works of the watch 5 and 6, the supporting-plates, and 7 the oscillating shaft of the hair-spring 8, and 1A, which is shown only in Fig. 6, a fragment of the outer watchcase.

A designates the compensating ring of my temperature-regulating device. It is an openended ring and a portion of its semicircular circumference is curved into a series of reverse curves or corrugations A. The ring is constructed of two dierent metals having different coefficients of expansion. I preferably use steel and brass for the ring and fuse lthem together at contact-surface, with the brass 9 on the inside of the ring and the steel 9A on the outside, so that they make an integral ring member. The brass has greater expansive capacity than the steel. Consequently with change of temperature the ring will increase or decrease in diameter. I rigidly secure one end 10 of this ring .to a supporting-plate B, that forms part of thecasing of the watch, by screws- 12. The opposite or free end 13 of the compensating ring A is pivotally attached by a pivot P to one end of a yoke-shaped ring D. The opposite end of the yoke-shaped ring is pivotally attached by a pin P2 to a cross-head E2. This cross-head E2 is slidably mounted in a pivotal block E. The pivotal block E contains a pivotal pin P3, that projects at right angles from its sides and extends a short distance beyond them. Its opposite ends are tapered to pivotal point-s 14 and 15. The lower point 15 rests in an additional jewel 16, which is detachably secured in a hole 17, having a taper portion 18 IOO at its outlet on the top portion of the plate formed in the end of the supporting-bridge B by the upper balance-wheel jewel 19 of a watch and plate 2l. rPhe additional jewel 16 is inserted into the hole from the bottom side of the plate and rests on the jewel 19, and the jewel 19 is secured in the holes by the plate 21, which is secured by screws 22. The jewel 19 and plate hold the additional jewel 16 against the taper portion adjacent to the top end of Jthe hole of the plate.

The upper pivot 14 of the arbor P3 is journaled in a jewel 23, which is secured in any suitable manner in the outer end of one arm 2t of an angled bridge, which rests on and is secured at its arm 25 to the bridge B by screws 26.

The pivotal block E is provided with an eX tending arm E3, which is integral with it. From the free end of this arm a pin 'l depends, in the lower end of which a slot P1 is formed. This slot straddles loosely the outer coil of the hair-spring of the watchl and is free to slide on this coil of the spring in whichever direction the cross-head is turned on its pivotal pin P3, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, by the movement ofthe free end of the compensating ring.

The pivotal blocklt contains a central slot 27, in which the cross-head E2 is slidably mounted. This slot 27 extends through one side of the block, and a clamping-screwfis threadedly secured to the adjacent sides of the slot to springingly close or open them to clamp the cross-head in an adjusted position or to release it so that it can be moved. The cross-head is threaded to a screw e, that is rotatively mounted on an apron portion 28, that projects from the lower side of the block and that fits loosely in a neck portion 29, formed in the screw adjacent to its head 30. 'lhe head may be provided with a screwdriven slot, by which it may be turned. I employ the cross-head and its screw to increase or diminish the effect of the movement of the free end of the compensating ring in lengthening or shortening the hair-spring to compensate for its increase or decrease in length due to change of temperature. By turning the screw e the cross-head is moved in or out of the block, which is turned on its pivotal pin P3 by the motion of the free end of the compensating ring A, transmitted through the dilferent parts to take effect in lengthening or shortening the hair-spring by sliding the slot P* back and forth on it toward S or F, as the case may be. By moving the cross-head out the distance between the two pivotal points P3 and P2 is increased, as shown by the dotted position ofthe crosshead in Fig. 3, and the motion transmitted to the slot Pl is decreased. By moving the cross-head in the two pivotal points P3 and P2 are brought closer together and the reverse effect is produced. Thus the movement of the free end of the compensating ring is adjusted so that it exactly compensates the es- @soest capement for variations in temperature. fm, designates a screw threaded through the end of the ring D, that is connected to the crosshead. The screw bears against the opposite end of the ring D and is used to spread the ends of the ring D apart or close them together, which operates through the pivotal block E and its component members to move the slot P4 on the hair-spring toward S or F independent of the movement ofthe free end of the compensating ring, and thus regulate the watch to run at any desired mean solail or sidereal time. n is a coiled spring so attached and adjusted to the mechanism as to take up all lost motion.

The operation is as follows: The hairspring` of a watch increases in length with increase of temperature and decreases in stiffness. Consequently the oscillations of the balance-wheel,which are controlled by it, will decrease in number per unit of time. This variation ot' length and stiffness of hairspring and also the variation of number of oscillations of the balance-wheel per unit of time may be compensated for either by varying the diameter of the balance-wheel or the length of the effective part of the hair-spring. The former is the method now in use and is imperfect. The latter is the method I em ploy. Consequently, as the compensating ring is composed of brass on the inside and steel on the outside, an increase in te1nper ature causes it to increase in diameter, which moves its free end out and through the medium of the ring D, the cross-head, and the pivotal block and its arm, and the depending pin moves the slot P4 on the hair-spring in the direction of the arrow F or to run faster or toward S, or to run slower with decrease of temperature. If the vfree arm of the compensating ring moves out, the hairspringactuating arm of the pivotal block slides along the hair-spring toward F, which shortens the effective part of it slightly. If the free arm of the compensating ring is moved inward by decrease of temperature, the hair-spring-actuating arm will be moved toward S and the hair-spring will be lengthcned slightly. In the present method in use for effecting the escapement in watches the hair-spring is lengthened by an increase of temperature and its stiffness is also lessened,

l which causes the watch to run slow; but my device with increase of temperature shortens the eective part of the hair-spring, provided the device is properly adjusted in all its parts just a sufcient amount to compensate the hair-spring for loss of stiffness and increase of length and the reverse for decrease of temperature, so that the watch is made to keep uniform time regardless ol'v changes in temperature.

The adjustment of the device to make the watch keep mean solar or sidereal time is effected by turning the screw m to spread the ends of the ring D apart, which pushes the pivot P2 farther away from the pivot P',

IOO

IIO

which is stationary relative to P2. This movement of P2 causes the pivotal block to swing on its pivotal pin independent of the movement ot the free end of the compensating ring, which causes the hair-spring-actuating arm to move on the hair-spring toward S, lengthens the spring, and causes thevwatch to run slower. By easing the screw ott' to allov:r the ends of the ring to close slightly together the movement of the hair-spring-actuating arm is reversed and the Watch will run faster.

My invention is simple and durable and is not apt to get out of order and can be readily applied to watches in use.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a temperature-compensating device for watches, the combination with the watch, of an open-ended ring arranged in the watch, composed of two metals having different coefficients of expansion and arranged with a plurality of reverse curves or corrugations in its circumference, and having one end rigidly sec ured to the casing of said watch and its opposite end pivotally secured to one end of a small open-ended, adjustable spring-ring, a block pivotallyT secured in said watch, a screwcontrolled cross-head slidably secured in said block and pivotally connected to the opposite end of said open ended small, adjustable spring-ring, and an arm on said pivotal block arranged and adapted to straddle and slide loosely on the effective portion of the hairspring of said Watch, substantially as described.

2. In a temperature-compensating device for watches, the combination of a Watch, an open-ended ring arranged in the watch and composed of two metals having different coefiicients of expansion and arranged with a plurality of reverse curves or corrugations in its circumference, and having one end rigidly secured to the casing of said watch and its opposite end pivotally secured to one end of a small open-ended adjustable ring, a block pivotally secured in said watch, a screw-controlled cross-head adj ustably secured in said block andv pivotally connected to the opposite end of saidpopen-ended, small, adjustable spring-ring, and an arm on said pivotal block,

a depending pin in the end of said arm having a bifurcated end arranged to straddle an effective portion of the hair-spring of said Watch, substantially as described.

3. In a temperature-compensating device, the combination with the Watch-plates, of the corrugated temperature expansion-ring composed of brass and steel having one end rigidly secured to said watch-plates, the small open-ended spring-ring pivotally attached at one end to the opposite and free end of said corrugatedring, the cross-head pivotally attached to the opposite end of said small springring, the pivotal block slidingly supporting said cross-head,the pivot-points on said block, the plate and jewel bearings arranged to support the lower end of said pivot and the plate and jewel arranged to support the top end of said pivot, substantially as described.

4. In a temperature-comp'ensating device the combination with the watchcase and the hair-spring, of the open-ended, corrugated ring having one end iixed to said plate and its opposite end free, the small expansible ring pivotally connected to the free end of said corrugated ring and the pivotal block having an arm operatively connected loosely and slidably to an eiiective part of said hair-spring, with a cross-head slidably and adjustably connected to said pivotal block and pivotally connected to the opposite end of said openended, smalhexpansible ring, substantially as described.

5. In a temperature-compensating device for watches, the combination of the Watchplate and the hair-spring, of the corrugated ring, the small spring-ring, the pivotal block, arranged to adjustably support said crosshead, and having an arm slidably connected to the effective part of said hair-spring, the supporting-plates and jewels for supporting said pivotal block and the spring arranged to take up the lost motion and to hold said corrugated ring, the small ring, the cross-head and the pivotal block under operative tension, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES M. GEIGER.

Vitnesses:

JOSEPH L. STEPHENsoN, HERBERT T. HILLS. 

